Blender won't import .3ds file despite working in Photoshop
what i think is that its not the issue of blender or max or maya.... the extraction conversation step has resulted in a corrupted file... which however photoshop is able to read(given that photshop is not meant for 3d)...if you have windows 10... try opening it in window 3d viewer and if it is viewable there.. export it in obj format